Blithewold Mansion Gardens and Arboretum
In 1896, the Van Wickle family built the Blithewold Mansion as a summerhouse. Right away, the family hired an architect to landscape the surrounding 33 acres. The original mansion burnt down but a new grander one replaced the original house just after the turn of the 20th century. The beautifully landscaped gardens have views of Narragansett Bay. Five hundred different types of trees and shrubs make up the gardens. A few special features the garden presents include a Japanese water garden, the largest redwood tree on the East Coast and rose gardens.
101 Ferry Road (Rt. 114)
Bristol, RI 02809
(401) 253-2707
blithewold.org
Acadia National Park
Explore 40,000 acres of adventure at the Acadia National Park in Maine. This park has forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and the Atlantic Ocean. Take a ranger-led tour; the park offers talks, walks, hikes, and boat cruises for those who are curious about the flora and fauna, stars and wildlife that inhabit the park. If you just want to be one with nature, take a bike ride or swim at one of the two beaches. Go fishing or just take your boat out for a cruise. If you feel like sleeping under the stars, the park offers several campgrounds to choose from. Check the National Park Service website for entrance fees and closures.
nps.gov
Green Mountain National Forest
Green Mountain National Forest has more than 400,000 acres, encompassing two-thirds of Vermont. The forest provides recreation for everyone. Go hiking, fishing, skiing, hunting or, if you are looking for something different, try dog sledding. Make sure too take your bug spray; the black fly season in the forest can be intense. Hiking and mountain biking on wet trails are discouraged. Check the National Forest Website for closures and current conditions.
www.fs.fed.us
